Moving Harmony blog

At last count, there are somewhere between 3,000 and 7,000 Qigong forms.  Even for a Qigong Master, that would be a lot to learn.

Fortunately, it is not necessary or even desirable to learn a huge number of forms. The true benefit of Qigong practice is developing a “Qigong State of Mind.”  — a feeling of clear minded relaxation that can be induced by the regular practice of just a handful of exercises.

The key to success is learning forms that you really like and wish to practice every day.  Practicing with a group once or twice weekly helps you learn some new forms to incorporate into your home practice.  Group practice also increases the tremendous health benefits of Qigong, which are magnifed by the energy of a group.

Yesterday I celebrated Mother’s Day by playing 3 sets of tennis.  I don’t claim to be to be an excellent tennis player, but love the sport.  I love it even more when I apply Qigong training while on the court.

First I practiced Qigong movements for about 20 minutes before heading over to the tennis center.  This stretched muscles and tendons, stimulated chi flow and reduced my chances of injury. I particularly enjoyed doing “ringing the temple gong,” “drawing the bow,” and “beating the heavenly drum”

When I arrived, I eased into a state of alert relaxation by focusing on breathing.  A few deep, full, slow breaths helped clear the mind and relax the body. Then standing with correct alignment, I sunk my energy to the lower dan tien, just below the naval.

With body relaxed, mind focused, and energy grounded and centered, I played really well.  More importantly, I enjoyed every point, even when I made a bad shot.

Qigong training can definitely help your tennis and golf games, and add enjoyment to anything you do.

Have you had any similar experiences as a result of your Qigong practice?  I would love to hear about them! Please write to me or comment on the blog site.

Recent scientific studies show that practicing Qigong and Taiji does more than help you relax.

Baylor Medical School researchers took cells from Qigong practitioners and compared them to cells from a control group.  The result?  The Qigong group’s cells lived up to five times longer!

At the University of Miami School of Medicine children with Attention Deficit Syndrome exhibited reduced anxiety, hyperactivity and improved conduct after just ten biweekly classes.

Studies of older adults performed by the Center for Tai Chi Studies demonstrated Taiji and Qigong practice improved balance, built greater lower body strength, and enhanced immune function.

So if you desire improved health and aim to live a long time, practice Qigong.  It really works.

I get inspired by watching birds.  They seem so care free, impervious to the worst weather.  Like yesterday morning, when Carolina wrens, sparrows and finches were singing during the snowstorm.

And how did so many birds survive this brutal winter?   Here’s a theory: birds and other animals live in harmony with the natural world, so can adapt to adversity, like extreme weather, food shortages, etc.

We humans can learn a lot from the birds.  We are usually way out of harmony with nature,  and pay the price with health, environmental and social problems.

Cultivating a harmonious relationship with the energy of nature is one of the goals of Qigong.  The gentle movements, deep breathing and meditation in Qigong produce a more balanced and contented state of mind.  So with regular practice, we gain the ability to face down adversity and greet every season with a song.

Scientific studies have shown that practicing Qigong delivers tremendous health benefits.  The only debate revolves around the “how” and “why.”

To the ancient Taoists and Buddhists who developed these practices, the answer is fairly simple. Qigong movement, meditation and breathing exercises strengthen the chi in our bodies and remove chi blockages that lead to disease.

Western science has no way to measure chi, so explanations for why Qigong is good for you are more complicated.  Some researchers say that Qigong triggers the “relaxation response,” which lowers blood pressure and activates our own inner healers.  Others opine that the gentle exercises in this practice offer the benefits of a strenuous aerobic workout without wear and tear on muscles and joints.  Still others point to enhanced blood and lymph flow.

Maybe they are all right.  But for the sake of simplicity, I’ll vote for strengthening chi flow and removing blockages.